At Close Range
Director: James Foley Run Time: 111 min. Format: 35mm Rating: R Release Year: 1986
Starring: Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chris Penn, Millie Perkins
Note: This rare print includes Spanish subtitles
Following starmaking turns in films like Fast Times in Ridgemont High and The Falcon and the Snowman, Sean Penn cemented his method acting chops and bad boy image with this “based on a true story” crime drama from James Foley (Reckless, Glengarry Glen Ross).
A mustachioed Christopher Walken (in “zaddy baddie” mode) is Brad Whitewood, Sr., a career criminal in rural Pennsylvania. When Brad’s unlawful activities begin intersecting with his sons (played by real life brothers Sean and Chris Penn), a series of illegal and dark events force Penn’s Brad, Jr. to decide between allegiance to his family or the police. Will blood be thicker than water? Featuring performances from a who’s who of the decade’s rising stars (Mary Stuart Masterson, Kiefer Sutherland, Crispin Glover) and a theme song by Penn’s then spouse, Madonna, At Close Range offers an 80s vision of a Shakespearean-Americana opera broadcasting Penn at his pin-up broodiest.
Introduced by Mark Pagán, host and creator of the podcast Other Men Need Help